Harlan Coben, the mastermind behind some of Netflix’s most riveting shows like The Stranger, Stay Close, and Fool Me Once, has yet to venture into the realm of sequels for his series. Despite their global acclaim and gripping narratives that have viewers glued to their screens, Coben’s productions like No Second Chance, Safe, The Woods, The Innocent, Gone for Good, Hold Tight, and alongside The Five, Just Un Regard and Prime Video’s Shelter have remained standalone masterpieces. This year, Netflix even green-lit two more of his projects, Missing You and Run Away. Yet, the possibility of revisiting any of these stories remains uncertain.
However, in a recent interview, while discussing his new novel, Think Twice, Coben shared that he has been toying with an idea for Fool Me Once, hinting at potential yet uncharted territories for the drama.
He imagines a spin-off that could excite fans but confessed it’s still brewing in his mind.
Despite this glimmer of possibility, Coben emphasized his cautious approach towards sequels. He has pondered over extending The Stranger but feels it might not come to fruition: “Maybe not.” His reluctance stems from a commitment to excellence; he believes any second season should surpass the first, or not happen at all. “I’ll only do a season two if it’s going to be better than season one. Otherwise, Netflix has given me the freedom to just say, ‘Okay, do this story.’ And we’ll just keep it in that same random way,” he explained.
Outside of his television endeavors, Coben also expressed a desire to revisit his past work in film. He mentioned his movie Tell No One, based on his book and adapted into a French film, as a project he’d love to develop into a series if he could navigate the complex rights involved.
While the future of Coban’s beloved series remains uncertain, the intrigue and hope he’s sparked among his fans ensure that his storytelling prowess continues to be celebrated worldwide. Harlan Coben’s latest book Think Twice is currently available for purchase.